Betterverse: Nonprofits in the Virtual World

"Login 2 Life" and How Virtual Worlds Enhance Our Lives

 

"Login 2 Life" is a new documentary directed by Daniel Moshel that examines the life virtual, wherein he shows that it isn't as much about escaping your "real" life as much as extending and expanding what it means to be human.  It's an impressive feat that the trailer above doesn't do justice to.

A meandering series of vignettes, "Login 2 Life" follows the life paths of six people who spend a good part of their days and nights in virtual online spaces, notably Second Life and World of Warcraft.  His subjects include a disabled woman who connects with other people with disabilities in Second Life, a singer in Germany who gigs to an online bevy of fans, and an entrepreneur who creates and markets virtual sex devices. He also profiles a number of dedicated World of Warcraft players, one severely disabled, another who plays as his profession, and a family who "gold farm" for their livelihood in China. 

"Login 2 Life" Film to Feature Disability Activist Gentle Heron

 

We got word that this morning, September 12, there will be a press conference on the upcoming documentary film "Login 2 Life" directed by Daniel Moshel.  Here's the description:

Login 2 Life portrays people who have found an alternate home in an online world. This is the starting point of a journey into fascinating virtual realities, meeting diverse human beings in different parts of the world who have one thing in common – they are savvy in using virtual worlds as an extension of their real lives.

It looks like the film is going to feature, among other folks, the indomitable Gentle Heron, founder of the nonprofit Virtual Ability.  While I am skeptical about the focus on virtual sex, Gentle has a very interesting story to tell that I am happy is getting the film treatment.

If you would like to participate in the press conference head to Virtual Ability in Second Life at this teleport link on Monday September 12 at 9am PDT.  

"Login 2 Life" will be shown on October 17 on ZDF in Germany and in Austria soon afterwards. No word yet on US or other international screening dates.  Perhaps a virtual film opening in Second Life?

Video, Slides and Links from My Keynote "We Built this City" at SLCC 2011 [UPDATED]

As promised here are the links, teleport SLURLs, slides and (grainy) video of my keynote presentation at the 2011 Second Life Community Convention last Saturday, August 13.  Thanks , everyone, for all of your interest in my talk and in the projects mentioned.  And of course thanks especially to the amazing organizers, builders, and educators responsible for these remarkable projects below.

[UPDATE 8/22/11: SLCC has just uploaded a better quality version of the video here. My talk starts at the 4:50 mark]

Second Life Videographer / Machinimist Needed for NMC Symposium in October

If you are an experienced Second Life videographer / machinimist, the NMC is looking for someone to record the sessions of their "Symposium for the Future" from October 19-21:

We want to capture the audio, presentation materials of all sessions on October 20 & 21 for our archives, with a destination to be published on our YouTube channel. We will pay you for the services (in real $$ or Lindens if you prefer). plus provide complimentary registration for yourself and 3 colleagues at the event.

If you are interested, email alan@nmc.org or or beth@nmc.org with a few examples of your video work.

[From the Second Life Educators email list]

OBL Takedown Machinima, "Creative" Re-enactments, and Public Discourse

 

My pal Hamlet posts on New World Notes a story about a machinima video team re-creating the "takedown" of Osama Bin Laden done in Second Life. Created by the company Avatrian Studios, they make no claims as to the historical accuracy of the depiction, but created this to show the "rapid development capabilities" of Second Life. It's technically an excellent video production.

I must say though, I find the whole thing troubling from a public discourse perspective.

May is the Month of Machinima in Second Life: Kickoff Event May 4

 
Machinima is one of the most powerful tools for nonprofits and public sector institutions to use in virtual worlds. This more broad=based form of digital video creation is accessible, entertaining, and relatively easy to create compared to other forms of filmmaking.

To see some of the best examples of machinima as an art form, I recommend that you check out the videos being showcased during the "Month of Machinima" being put on by the Linden Endowment for the Arts.  The kickoff for the MoM is Wednesday May 4, 10am SLT at the teleport links listed below:

• Theater 1
• Theater 2
• Theater 3
• Theater 4

Head to the official blog post for details. Should be a really interesting showcase, given all of the amazing talent out there in Second Life.

Winners of Federal Virtual World Challenge & Machinima for Nonprofits at NPC Meeting Tomorrow (April 1)

This week we have a very special Nonprofit Commons meeting on Friday April 1 at 8:30am PST. We are fortunate enough to have two of the winners of the 2011 Federal Virtual World Challenge talking about their projects and the challenge, which was announced at the end of March. And we will also be joined by award-winning machinima producer Frank Dellario / SL : IllBixby Cerveau of Pixel Valley Studios , telling us about professional machinima production and nonprofits.

Agenda for Nonprofit Commons Meeting April 1, 2011

8:30 Introductions
8:40 Professional Machinima for Nonprofits - Frank Dellario, Pixel Valley Studios
9:00 Report on 2011 Federal Virtual World Challenge

• Archivist Llewellyn and Curiousity Scientist, Curiousity AI
• Anders Gronstedt, Hurricane Shelter Simulation

9:20 Discussion about Best Tools and Resources for Machinima - Rik (time permitting)
9:30 Open Mic

That's tomorrow, April 1, starting at 8:30am PST at the Nonprofit Commons Amphitheater (teleport link.) See you all there!

New Series on Virtual Art & Design: a 3D Walk Through a Flickr Stream (video)

 

Machinima journalist Draxtor Despres tells me that he is launching a new series on art and design in virtual worlds.  As he describes it, he will profile "individuals that make up the creative class in Second Life: musicians, designers, activists just to name a few fields of user engagement."

Here's his first installment, that focuses on John Filwalk, one of the creators of "Flickr Gettr," an immersive device that creates a rich 3D experience of a flickr stream in a virtual world. Flickr Gettr was developed by John Filwalk and Jesse Allison for IDIALAB at Ball State University.

While not directly connected to nonprofits or social causes, efforts like "Flickr Gettr" do help us all to make a case for the power of virtual worlds to inspire awe and create impact on the participant.  Imagine an online class of 20 students all looking at images of "genocide" or "love" and discussing over chat what the images evoke for them. Or installing a Flickr Gettr in your virtual nonprofit's office as a way of showcasing what your members and supporters post about your work.

Can't wait for Draxtor's next installment!

Second Life Brings Veterans and Civilians Together for Healing Dialogue

 

The New York Times makes a passing mention of how Second Life has been used to promote veteran-civilian dialogues, along with face-to-face gatherings sponsored by the group Intersections International. The purpose of these dialogues is to "to empower veterans to fully re-integrate into civilian society and educate civilians about the unique needs and strengths of returning military personnel." Here is a more complete machinima video showing how the first such virtual dialogue went on September 17, 2010.

Produced by Intersections International and Startled Cat, Inc, the video shows how virtual environments can be used to replicate the kinds of therapeutic and consensus-building techniques used in real world gatherings. At the same time, it uses a lot of the tropes of group therapy sessions -- people sitting in chairs in a circle facing each other, with facilitators at the front.  Soft piano music plays in the background, a water fountain gurgles nearby. 

I do wonder if there are more enhanced techniques using virtual environments that can make them more powerful and experiential than simple re-creations of real world settings. What if they were to be floating on clouds in the sky in meditative poses?  What if they were walking through a wooded glade in the mountains, or rafting down a lazy river?  What if people as they spoke saw their avatars transformed in some way?  I'm not a psychotherapist, but I do think that we need to get beyond virtual environments as trying to be 1-to-1 replications of our physical world.

But that's for the future. For now this is a tremendous step and looks like a really powerful event for those that participated.  Sadly, as conflicts and wars continue, the need for healing and dialogue with veterans will continue.  Kudos to Intersections International and Startled Cat for making this happen.

Notes from Talk on Virtual Worlds for 2011 BAVC Producers Institute

Last Saturday, I had the honor of addressing an audience of about 150 documentary makers and new media experts at the Tribeca Film Center on the subject of virtual worlds and new forms of storytelling.  It was part of the awesome Producers Institute for New Media Technologies, a two-week long crash course for documentary filmmakers on integrating digital media and storytelling, organized by the nice folks at the Bay Area Video Coalition. 

They were an eager and enthusiastic crowd, most of whom had almost no experience with Second Life or any other virtual world.  I had a great time presenting, and learned a lot from the all-star panel of digital media experts, talking about everything from mobile phones to collaborative video editing, data mining, gaming and augmented reality.

For those that attended my talk, here are the links to some of the organizations and projects that I mentioned:

• Global Kids and the Global Kids' Online Leadership Program
• Simulation: "Witnessing History" (Kristalnacht project with the US Holocaust Memorial Museum)
• Simulation: 3D AIDS Quilt
• Roleplay / Avatars: I Dig Science virtual fossil dig
• Gaming: Consent! game on medical experimentation on prisoners
• Gaming: Virtual Mine game on coal mining
• User Generated Content: "Discovered" machinima film by teens on sex trafficking
• Events: Kofi Annan in four virtual worlds
• Events: Film premiere of three youth films in Second Life

For those that wish to be in touch with Global Kids about exploring possible collaborations or partnerships, please be in touch with us at olp@globalkids.org.